Tools

At first, this Keanu Reeves-produced documentary about the changes wrought by the onset of digital cinematography seems like an industry infomercial as it front-loads its narratives with gung-ho testimony from the likes of James Cameron and the Wachowskis. But, a deeper subtler and more comprehensive film emerges as Reeves and director Christopher Kenneally carefully consider what is lost and gained by the move away from celluloid. While some miss the texture of real film, others, like Robert Rodriguez, say that the old methods were like "painting in the dark." While it becomes clear that the technology is moving in one direction only, some, like Martin Scorsese, wonder if audiences are becoming too used to the magic, and too hard to impress. An excellent documentary for film lovers and students. The film is so full of industry celebrities, it's more useful to say who's not here: Steven Spielberg, Woody Allen and Quentin Tarantino, for starters. Not rated.
ByDavid Fellerath